Despite the Hype, Wrestlemania 2000 Not a Hit

Vince McMahon chose to put himself over at the biggest wrestling event of the year, rather than the Rock or Mick Foley.

The return of Mick Foley for "one night only" was anti-climatic, and made no sense storyline wise. Foley was the second man eliminated in the fatal four way main event for the WWF title. Why bring Foley back for "one night only," only to have him not figure into the outcome of the match?

The lengthy main event at Wrestlemania was not about the four competitors in the ring; it was about the family on the outside. Vince McMahon turned heel yet again, and "screwed" the company’s top babyface, The Rock, in a predictable fashion.

The show opened with a dreadful musical performance by rap star Ice T, leading the Godfather and D-Lo Brown to the ring. The opening contest was way too long, and left fans wondering when it was going to end.

The Hardcore battle royal (not really a battle royal with traditional rules) saw the WWF Hardcore title change hands a ridiculous ten times in fifteen minutes, not exactly a way to elevate a championship.

The tag team match pitting T & A against Al Snow and Steve Blackman was used to introduce a dwarf in a cheese outfit called Chester McCheesington. The match was just as forgettable as the mascot.

The “cat fight” between The Kat and Terri had no business being on the "Super Bowl" of wrestling pay-per-views, rather just a poor excuse to expose a "little" skin.

The WWF succeeded in removing two titles from Kurt Angle without him being pinned. Chris Beniot won the first-fall of a three-way match with Chris Jericho to capture the Intercontinental title. The obvious question is simple, why was the IC title at stake in the first fall? The second fall seemed an after thought, as the three battled for the inferior European title.

By far, the best match of the night was the ladder match pitting the Dudley Boyz against the Hardy Boyz against Edge and Christian. The match was phenomenal filled with breath taking bumps for almost fifteen minutes. Beyond that point, the match really dragged on, lasting almost a half an hour.

During the match, the WWF superstars took two bumps that were totally unnecessary. Buh Buh Ray Dudley executed a 3-D death drop off the ladder, a move that if not done successfully, could have had some serious ramifications. Also, Jeff Hardy did his senton bomb off a thirteen-foot ladder and smashed Buh Buh Ray through a table on the entrance ramp.

Jim Ross announced the attendance several times as 19,776, an exaggerated number. Although the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim was legitimately sold out, the crowd was dead throughout the show.

And of course, Pete Rose received another tombstone piledriver from Kane. What would a recent Wrestlemania be without that? The major league baseball hit leader worked the show despite his mother passing away the previous night.

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